Dad & Daughter podcast
"Dad & Daughter" is a monthly podcast capturing honest, heartwarming conversations between a father and his daughter as she embarks on life abroad. From first steps and culture shocks to laughs, lessons, and growing independence, each episode is a snapshot of their evolving journey — together and apart.
Dad & Daughter podcast
8 - Season final - Back Where It Started, but Different
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The San Francisco adventure has come to an end — although not quite the way we expected.
We actually recorded an episode about Linnea’s next chapter before… but that episode mysteriously disappeared. And perhaps that was fitting, because the plans we talked about then disappeared too.
Linnea had hoped to continue her California adventure with a job at a startup, but things didn’t work out that way. Instead, there was an unexpected detour to Hawaii 🌴 before it was finally time to pack the bags and head back to Sweden.
Now Linnea is home — and she has just started a new job in Sweden.
In our season finale, we look back at the journey from arriving in San Francisco to returning home: the experiences, the surprises, the plans that changed along the way, and what it feels like to be back in Sweden after such an eventful year.
Was coming home the right decision? What does she miss about California? How does working in Sweden compare? And most importantly: what did Linnea — and Dad — actually learn from this adventure?
One chapter closes. Another one begins.
🎙️ Dad & Daughter — Season Finale
Welcome to the final episode of the Dead and Delta Podcast. Let's go. Hey Linia, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_01I'm good. How about you?
SPEAKER_03Good too. I think we need to do some um housekeeping because actually was it in end of May? I think we recorded an episode. And you know what? It disappeared.
SPEAKER_00It disappeared. How can it even disappear?
SPEAKER_03Memory shortage. The industry talks about memory shortage. So let's see if we can recover it. But it's gone. And maybe the universe didn't like it.
SPEAKER_01Oh was it that bad?
SPEAKER_03Not really, but let's go back to that time a little bit. Um because it was obvious that you coming to the last month of your stay in San Francisco. So tell us a little bit about how it how that felt.
SPEAKER_01How that felt. But then it's also a hazard because there's so many options, right? Uh so I think end of May is when we were slowly like starting to wrap up stuff at work and just like have the slower summer months in front of us. Uh so for me it was more like okay, what's gonna happen after this?
SPEAKER_03Um and just to to mention that your assignment was for a year, right? I think you started in August.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I started August, it's a one-year placement, so like my visa expired end of August. Um, and like officially uh last work is also like I'm finishing up the work in August, but there is also like okay, if we find something or like the next thing already earlier during the summer, it's totally fine to leave a bit earlier since the summer months are slower. Um, so yeah, I think NOMA kind of limbo state, me trying to figure out do I want to stay uh do I wanna uh go home to Sweden, do I want to go somewhere uh completely else? So I actually started to apply to a lot of jobs in May um to kind of find the next thing.
SPEAKER_03And then you know, the next thing which happened was we actually came over uh middle of June.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03You showed us around in uh beautiful San Francisco, and we took also then the opportunity to do a little bit of camping for a week. Yeah, but I can remember you the first days you were super like you know, like um on edge. On edge, like uh, you know, rabbits, uh you know, this Duracell uh um thingy, right? Um and then you know, during the you know the one week we were, you I could really observe how you started to calm a little bit down. Um But I I think you were on edge because you had quite some things open and you didn't know how how it worked out, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think like just like the uncertainty of things is uh not a state I like to be in since I do like being in control. And I mean it's a nice thing that like oh I have every possibility or like everything everything can happen. But it's just like I think the uncertainty, and I think by then I've I was only I mean to be fair, like I think from like uh well since March I've been kind of like okay, what's gonna be the next thing? What's gonna be the next thing? So even though I wasn't like during the f like until like beginning of May actively applying to jobs, it still had been on my mind, and then it's like okay, May comes finally start like like applying to jobs, and then it's just like because I think also especially the weeks before you came. I I mean I had a week where I had like one or two interviews every day, and then I mean it was amazing that you came uh and everything, but it's just like it felt like uh shit disruption in my yeah, kinda kind of thing, because like I'm so uh up in my mind and like oh I have to do this, I have to do this. And I think maybe I don't know if we talked about this in the episode that magically disappeared, uh because I mean because I applied like majority of jobs in the US, but then also in Sweden, and then also other places in Europe, so it's like different time zones. I mean, I check, I mean, I think like most people know or like recognize themselves that when you apply to jobs, you start checking like your phone and your email like constantly because like oh, update, update. And also imagine doing that over different time zones. So it was like during the day, I was like, oh, checking from the email or the emails for like oh, responses from jobs in the US, but then during the night, the responses from the jobs in Europe would come. So it was also like, oh, I wasn't sleeping that well, but at that is also like I'm a stressed individual. No, I'm not stressed, but I do thrive in fast-paced environments, so I don't mind having a lot of things to do.
SPEAKER_03But it was like But it went a little bit too far, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I think especially like with the visa situation as well, that it's like okay, I actually have like a hard like time limit. So it was also that I was like, oh, waking up during the night because I I don't know, woke up and then just like oh checking the the time on my phone, and then like oh, while I'm there checking the mail, and then like oh, you just open the mail, I'm like, oh uh what's it called? Um oh decline after decline after decliner kind of thing, uh, or rejection. Um so yeah, I think when you came wasn't the best timing, and then especially when we're camping, we're like in a bunch of national and state parks where there wasn't any cell reception, and I was like, bros, but I have an interview schedule, kind of thing. So uh it wasn't ideal, but I think as you say, like in the end, not everything is too s too serious. Um, and I also remember that like once we uh yeah, I don't know, I don't know if we were like in San Jose or something, um, at a hotel, and I also like oh went out of the room at like six in the morning because I had a like oh third round interview with uh with a job in Sweden. So I sat down in the hotel lobby and took that from there.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it was funny because that was the same hotel, I think, where the Was it Australia? Yeah, the Australian team uh because there was the FIFA World Cup, right? Yeah, was staying or the supporters um for it.
SPEAKER_01So me sitting there in the hotel lobby at six in the morning.
SPEAKER_03Six in the morning, yeah. But probably they were still asleep. So no. Um I I remember in one of the episodes you also talked about like it is really two different worlds, right? I mean, like in in the US, you know, you had like an interview and then you could start the next week or the week after, right? Whereas in Sweden it's like much larger larger and slower. Yeah, and slower, and then you have two weeks later the next interview road or something like this. Yeah. So what happened then? So now we are let's say um we are back to Sweden and I think you you then really felt like okay. Now it's either break it or make it, uh so to say, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so basically I mean the timing just wasn't great because you guys were there for like two and a half weeks, and even though I wasn't with you like all the time, I was with you quite a like a lot, and then a couple of days after you left, I had two other friends come visit for another week. So like the timing wasn't ideal, but I mean you make it work. Uh so in the end, I just like continued to applying to a bunch of jobs, um, had a lot of interviews, and I mean that itself is also like really good training, right? Uh especially doing it in both Swedish, English, and German. Um, you really learn like okay, what do people like to hear? Uh, and also like adapt everything. So I mean, I mean, of course you get better with time, but it's just like an exhausting place to be in when you're so dependent on other people and other people's decision and timelines and whatever. Um, anywho, um the day comes, uh, I'm in multiple processes, uh, I'm getting an offer, and that is kind of like okay, damn, I really have to decide what I want to do because I'm not gonna because this was an offer in Sweden, and it's also like I'm not gonna say no to this offer to like oh hope to wait that I get something in the US. Because I think like if I could choose freely, I would want to stay in the US for for a couple of years, but then it's also like okay, just because I take this one, it doesn't mean that I never can come back, kind of thing. Right, right. Um so I think I had like about a week to decide on the offer, and I was like, oh, should I continue applying here or not? But then I just woke up one day to a bunch of other uh rejections and was like, nope, I'm done. I don't want to do this anymore. Uh I'm just like so tired because by then I had been applying, like actively applying every day to I don't know how many jobs for like three and a half months or like yeah, two, two and a half. I don't really know. Um so it's just like an exhausting place to be in. You're constantly stressed. It's just like the uncertainty, because it's not that I'm like, oh, am I gonna get a job or not? I mean, I know that I'm gonna get a job because I'm a competent driven person who puts in the effort to make sure that she gets a job, but it's more like, oh, do I have to pack up my whole life and move across the world? Kind of thing. Um so yeah, I just woke up one day and was like, I've had enough. Uh I got a good like job offer, why shouldn't I take it?
SPEAKER_03And then like and then you know the future brings what it brings, right? So um when you when you made the when you came to that decision, right? I I remember you were sort of relieved to to to take that decision, so to say.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, because I think like no matter like how stressed or like how because I just I just have a really hard time making decisions. I think or not like everyday decisions, but like oh big life decisions. And then in the end, I know it's like honestly, it's not that serious because everything that has ever happened, everything like decision that I've doubted has somehow worked out. Yeah, just somehow not I would like in not in my favor, but like kinda, like I've never like truly of course there is some things where like oh wonder would what would have happened if I would have done it differently, but like in the end, like every decision I've made takes you to the next step that leads you to the next step. So like everything happens for a reason. Um so I think for me it's more like I need to make a decision, and after that, I'm just like it's for me all about the mindset because then I can be like, okay, actually I'm gonna move back, doesn't mean that I'm never gonna be back in the US, but like right now I'm moving back to Sweden, which means that I'm 100% gonna like like make sure to like do everything uh in the US to like 100% or like take uh not advantage, like uh make sure to take in everything, or like get the most out of like my last couple of weeks or whatever. Um because yeah, for me it's just like the uncertainty. As soon as I make up my mind, then it's like let's go for it.
SPEAKER_03Lenia's definition of doing everything, keeping everything in is spelled Hawaii.
SPEAKER_01Keeping everything in, no, making sure to make everything I want to do before I leave, right? Uh yeah.
SPEAKER_03But uh before we uh go there, so once you took the decision, I mean you were you know talking with a lot of people, I think you you had a pretty good social network there. What were the reactions of your colleagues? Was it like, oh great, you found a job in Sweden, or was it like, oh, are you going back? Or I mean of my colleagues or friends, yeah. I mean, not the friends you have here, right? But the all of the US, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um I mean, I don't think anybody was like, yay, she's going back to Sweden. I don't think it's like that. I mean it's more like, oh yeah, great, you got a job. Like, uh, but I think I'm like, I think everybody would have wanted me to stay. You really think that? Yeah, I I hope so. Yeah. And but I think like especially like I mean, like, especially the obviously, like, oh, the people I'm close to, they're gonna be like, yeah, that is great for you. Like, we're gonna see each other no matter like where you're gonna be. And then also a lot of the people um that I've been hanging out over there are like Scandinavians or like European people, and it's like, oh, closer to visit a lot of Swedes as well. So, like, okay, eventually if they don't have a green card uh or permanent visa, like they're gonna come back to Sweden at least to like re uh reapply for it or like to the go to the embassy, and then it's also like a lot of people are like from Stockholm or like areas around, so okay, they're uh they're gonna go be home at least like during Christmas or something. So it's like I'm gonna see them either way, but I think it's more of the people that you meet that are like permanent permanently based in the US and don't have any connection to Sweden because I mean I can basically count on one hand how many Americans I've met that have been to Sweden kind of thing. Um so yeah, for example, like my roommates having to say goodbye to them, not nice, not fun. Um so yeah.
SPEAKER_03And then Hawaii.
SPEAKER_01Hawaii.
SPEAKER_03So uh how did you okay?
SPEAKER_01Let me uh let me lay it out for you. So when I first moved, I mean of course everybody's heard of Hawaii, right? But then it's like, where is it actually? And then like, oh damn, it's actually in the US. So yeah, all I think of Hawaii, like, oh, volcanoes, tropical island, clear blue water. So when I moved to the US, uh started talking to people, and everybody was like, hey oh, what are you like, what are your things on your bucket list while you're here? Which are the places you really want to visit? And I actually looked up where Hawaii was. I was like, well, it's actually pretty close. Uh so in the beginning, I was like, okay, you know pretty close.
SPEAKER_03Five hours. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01But I mean, like, go from Sweden, and it's at least like like I don't know, 30 hours travel time or something. Um, so when I moved to the US, I was like, okay, before I leave this country, I wanna go to Hawaii because like now I'm basically I can't get any closer um than from the West Coast. So that kind of like was in my back of my mind. Uh I was telling people, like, no, I really want to go to Hawaii before I leave. Um so and I mean I had had it in the back of my mind all the time, but I didn't really think about it while I was applying to jobs because, like, oh, hopefully I'm gonna stay in the US. Um I don't have to go to Hawaii right now. I still have a couple of months left, right? Um, but I think and then I had some other friends uh who had like oh been there a while ago, started talking about that, and I was like, oh yeah, damn, Hawaii, right? Um and then when I got the offer, woke up that morning, or another morning, and was like, no, I don't want to do this anymore. Uh I started to like, oh, I have to book There was a b uh thing on the bucket list. There was, I remember like, yeah, no, I'm gonna uh I mean what I say and say what I mean, right? So uh I was like, damn, yeah, no, maybe I should really do this, especially because I had already like uh accepted the offer, booked my return flight to Sweden, kind of like sort out the logistics of like oh when to move and whatever. Um I was like, I think it was like the week, like end of August, uh end of July. Uh and I was like, also just from one day to another, I was like, damn Hawaii.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, damn Hawaii.
SPEAKER_01And then it was like, okay, I have three weeks left before I start my job in Sweden. And I was like, I should probably be in Sweden a couple of days before because like jet lag, nine-hour time difference, and whatever. Uh, but you know, by that time I was like end of July, I was still working at my current job, hadn't said anything to my boss about when I'm gonna leave. And I was like, okay, I have three weeks until I start my new job, and then some buffer days, right? So just the next day at work, I was like, hey, what do you think about this week being my last week? And he was like, What are you what are you talking about? No, he was like, Yeah, no, of course, just like make sure blah blah. And then he was like, Oh, what do you want to what are you gonna do? The the last or when are you are you gonna go back to Sweden straight away? And I was like, no, I'm gonna go to Hawaii. Uh so that I don't know, probably like the same day or something, I sat down, booked flights to Hawaii, um, and booked kind of everything a week in advance.
SPEAKER_03Good that you got the fare which was decent.
SPEAKER_00A fare?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I mean uh flight fare, right? I mean how much uh maybe it was not that decent.
SPEAKER_01No, I think like if I would have booked, because I also looked like okay, just like to compare prices, uh, I looked at flights like uh say a month from that day, and it was like almost more than or less than half the price. So it was like when I booked, it was almost like more than double the price.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, but I'm like gotta go to Y I you know I I can remember then when you told us that hey I got flights and so forth, and then you said um maybe I find a bar there and I could uh you know work maybe from there, maybe not a bad idea, or maybe I fall in love.
SPEAKER_01You gotta stay in the US, and I mean also like Hawaii. I'm like I'm like in love with Hawaii. Okay, um would be pretty soft lifestyle, huh? Yeah, just like open. I mean if I want to start my own business, just start a beach cafe, surf bar. I don't know. Like, whatever, it seems pretty things could be worse than that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, if they go around, right?
SPEAKER_01Alright. Hello, hello, business man. No, Mr. Negativity.
SPEAKER_03No, so you went there? Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I did. I went there. I went for 10 days, uh, went alone, first time traveling alone as well. Um, it was awesome. Went to two different islands, uh, also got A rental car on one of the islands because there is no basically no public transportation and the only way to go around is by like own vehicle. Um went on a bunch of hikes.
SPEAKER_03You went into a wilderness park, which which uh you know, specifically if you go alone, I I I must say wow shouldn't have told you that detail, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_03Well uh I mean of you know, as parents I mean let's say it like this. If I would have the choice, I'm not sure I would have done it. To do it uh yourself or what going alone into a wilderness bark, uh going there, and um no, I I I don't know how it is with you, but uh also when you go alone, I think it's um you can't share. I mean you can share the experience in the same way as if you would have gone with somebody else.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, sure. But then it's also like then why travel alone in the first place?
SPEAKER_03Because it's not just about like oh the wellness park, it's like yeah, but I mean it was more I mean it was not your um maybe it was not your primary choice to go alone, but I mean due to the fact that you know timing blah blah blah, it was the consequence, right? That you um yeah, but maybe you also enjoyed it. Uh yeah.
SPEAKER_01So I had a great time. And it was like I think like especially because I was like, I'm gonna go because like the the whole time I was like I'm gonna go uh go to Hawaii before I leave, like even if like I have to go alone, like that's like Hawaii seems like a pretty nice place to go alone as well, or like a pretty like uh safe place. Um so uh but like actually the week before when I was like starting spreading the moo rumor that I'm actually going to Hawaii, I had a friend uh or like yeah, a friend say, like, hey, you know, actually I could also imagine going to Hawaii. Uh and I was like, oh, that would be so fun, but like honestly, let me like think uh about it because right now I'm actually pretty excited to go alone as well.
SPEAKER_03Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, and also like about the wilderness park, like it's basically just like a big national park, but it's like a little bit more remote. There are no public roads in there, so you had to get picked up by like a shuttle survey going into the park. There's no cell reception.
SPEAKER_03Exactly. Um and the guy who basically says, Yeah, uh last night we had to take somebody out with a helicopter to be cautious.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, no, he was kind of like I mean, also like a you book like a pickup time from like a parking lot. So we were like picked up in vans, like I don't know, 15 people in one van or something. So I was picked up at like 6:30 in the morning. Uh we sit on the on the I don't know, 30-minute drive into the park. And he's like, Yeah, remember guys, once you're out there, you're on your own. Um, there's also like a beach that you like, one trail leads to a beach, and then trails continue from there. And he's like, make sure to not touch the water. It's like open ocean waves. So people underestimate like how uh how like strong the waves are, how strong the current is. So people who even go in with like their ankles or to their ankles uh have been like ripped away by the water. So don't touch the water. And he's like, Yeah, no, I think I've saved about like 20 people from out of the ocean from there because I they just like, oh, want to take a stroll by the water. Uh and then he's yeah, he was like, It's pretty steep, it's pretty muddy. Um, be cautious, no cell reception. Yesterday, yeah, we had to send out a helicopter to save someone. Um yeah, so I was walking there at 6:30 in the morning on my own and kind of like funny enough, we then saw you you showed us a snippet from you know when you were there.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And you were yeah, yeah, no, I was showing them a video, and then in the background you can hear me just like sing to myself. Um, yeah, because I can just never keep quiet. Um and it's gone to the to the point where I don't even hear it that I'm or like I'm not even conscious about that I'm doing it. Uh so no, so I was on Kawaii, uh sorry, yeah, no, Hawaii uh on both Wahoo and Kauai uh for 10 days in total. It was so fun, it passed like time passed so fast. I had no troubles being uh because of the first days I also stayed at a hostel, but then on the other island they didn't have any hostels. Um, so first days I met so many people, and then I was basically alone for six other days. Uh but I had no issues, like me on the hiking trails, hello hello! How's going? Uh so yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Then you went back to San Francisco. Yeah. Remember, I remember when uh when you I think was it the day when you arrived you you said, oh, it's actually quite nice to be back home.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Ugh. Oh. San Francisco feels so much like home. It's crazy. Yeah, it's crazy basically going from the airport in like an Uber towards the city. You just see the skyline, all the AI billboards that's like replace humans. And I was like, wow. This is my America. Uh no, uh, it's crazy how much San Francisco feels uh like home. So yeah. I mean, it's not a great realization when you're like, well, I'm moving abroad in less than a week. We're abroad moving back home to Sweden. So yeah. Uh so I had uh about six, seven days left in San Francisco to just like pack up everything, say goodbye to everyone. So yeah.
SPEAKER_03And then yeah, then um dear friends from SIS.
SPEAKER_01Yes. You know, I would say that I'm like my life goes pretty smooth. I'm like I'm in control of my life. I but there if there's one thing I've had troubles with, it's flights. Like I've like filed so many claims. I also been like uh to court with for one flight uh claim. Um so yeah, I know there were some issues with a flight that they said they could rebook me. My initial flight had already left the country and whatever, and I was at home and I was like, hey, they rebooked me. Uh, I got a message the other the next day, hey, we aren't able to rebook you. And I was like, bros, but my flight has already left the country. Uh so yeah, uh had some troubles. Um no more SAS for me right now. So I um booked a new flight because that's so cheap nowadays. Uh so yeah, shout out to Turkish Airlines, yeah, amazing.
SPEAKER_03Sponsored by Daddy.
SPEAKER_01I'll swish you for that.
SPEAKER_03Um yeah, and then you came home. Yeah, maybe a little bit strange feeling to come back or uh to your you know, where you had your child room uh childhood room.
SPEAKER_01Um yeah, but it's also like it's not that I mean I haven't been here for eight months. So it's not that it's like crazy, and I mean everything is kind of like the same. It's just like and I've me I'm I think like also because like I mean I haven't lived at home for the past what five years or something, but I mean I'm still like here on a regular basis, so it's like I mean, of course, and it's it's an adjustment, uh, and it's just like a bit weird because like when I initially look moved to San Francisco, I was like, oh, it's actually not that I because people were like asking, like, oh, how's the culture shock going? And I was like, Well, it's not because I don't feel any, uh like because I thought it was like so easy to adapt. And of course, there's like oh, more homelessness, like uh drug abuse, and like whatever, and just like a bit more like rowdy out on the streets, but I think like I was pretty aware that okay, like it's a bit more like that. Yeah, so you're kind of like I mean, I've seen it before, I've just never lived anywhere where it was like that. So, like, I think I was still like pretty aware of what like oh, I'm getting myself into, and I know that oh, Americans are pretty social, and like I mean, we've been there on vacation, so I kind of know like how it is. Um, but the were weird thing is that I think I'm having a reverse culture shock now when moving back. Yeah, no, because I'm like, this is weird, or like I think it's there, I'm thinking about more things now than I initially thought about when moving to the US.
SPEAKER_03That's interesting, and um that will probably take some time to to settle again, uh so to say.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, but it's more like I'm like, why is nobody looking me in the eye? I'm like, why are people like, oh, when you like I can uh for example now started new work going to the like uh what's it called? Uh is it uh elevator? Yeah, exactly. Uh when another person is already standing there, and I'm like, hello. And they're like looking down the floor and like hello. They're like making, I think like for me right now, it feels like everybody's so awkward. Because they're like, yeah. Or it's like you can sit speak to somebody and they're like, oh wow, and I'm like, hello.
SPEAKER_03Somebody at home. Yeah, yeah, no.
SPEAKER_01I'm like, what is what is are you are you alright? Uh so I think it's kind of like that. Also, like sorry, no, no, I'm gonna so spoil. For example, in the US, when you go somewhere and some somebody comes and holds up the door for me, there's like they smash it in my face, kind of thing. Or it's also like, for example, imagine you're like standing on the bus or standing on the train, the train stops, everybody has to get out of the train. Usually in the US, it's like if you're you're not standing in the main line, but you're coming like from the side from like a seat, people stop and let you go in front, like but here, nobody lets you go into the main main thingy. So you have to wait until like everybody has gone off, so you like even if you're like in the front or whatever, can come off. And it's I think it's more of a like working together in society to make things work, which is kind of a little bit awkward here because everybody's like on their like mindset on their own. Um for example, also like in the US, if you accidentally bump into someone at a grocery store, they're like, Oh my god, so sorry. And I was like, No, you're good. Here it's like they full on like bump into you, don't even look up and walk away. And I'm like, hello. So it's like more things like that, or also like uh uh my office now is in the city, so when I've gone there, I'm like, first of all, it's really clean, uh Stockholm, it's so quiet, nobody's screaming on the street. Uh and it's just like oh no, like um police or like ambulance hires or stuff like that. It's like so quiet, and I'm like, I could basically lick the floor here because it's so yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh, it's really funny uh to have this different perspectives, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Um but I can also be like, for example, yesterday, Friday night, was out in the city with a friend, and I'm like, I mean, Stockholm is really it's really cozy because we're like, oh, one-on-one, like the main streets with like oh outdoor seating restaurants, outdoor seating bars, and it's I mean it's like people are outside, uh, and it's like a bunch of people there, but it's like it's not full. Like it's not that there are like so many people on the street, and you feel like oh, it's like buzzing, which it definitely can be in San Francisco, even though there are like fewer people living in San Francisco than in Stockholm. So it's like I mean, yesterday, Friday, super nice weather, whatever should be like prime time for people to be out, and maybe that was oh, this is actually what it looks like when it's busy, but then I'm like, what does it look like when it's not busy? Yeah, but I said, like, also no, it sounds like I've been gone for ages, but like also yesterday we were like, me and my friend we were heading into a bar, and I was like, damn, everybody's so dressed up, and it's just like because like in San Francisco, every like I would say in general, Scandinavian people very much fashion conscious, hell yeah, super super nice, but it feels also that people just like to dress up more here because like in SFO everybody's like, oh, startup, tech bro, hoodie, crocs, I don't know.
SPEAKER_03But these are engineers, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, but also like okay, you want to map out the percentage of engineers in San Francisco, I think it's pretty high. Yeah, or it's more I would but also like to go away from the stereotypes. I think like just in general, like the general population doesn't dress up as much as sweets, and I've there, I mean, I don't know if we talked about this before, but like Scandinavian country is very fashion conscious, everybody dresses properly, like and that is like just like a cultural difference, I think. But it was like less yesterday, I was like, damn, people dress up.
SPEAKER_03So really fun uh funny to hear this, but um you came back, it was actually almost exactly a year, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, you know, yeah. No, I flew out of Sweden on the 20th, and I flew out of the US on the 20th of August. So it was exactly a year, which is actually crazy.
SPEAKER_03Which is crazy.
SPEAKER_01Shout out to Turkish Airlines!
SPEAKER_03And then um I think maybe a last word on if you think about the linea which has left and you know, because it's exactly one year, right? Uh so the one who flew out versus the one who came back. What would you would you say was the the main main thing and what is you know other people hear this podcast, right? I mean, what would you recommend them?
SPEAKER_01The main thing you know I mean obviously I would say do it, right? But it's also like it's was I never doubted if I was gonna if I should do it or not. But I think that was also me just like being curious, really wanting to live abroad, even though I wasn't like, oh, the job I'm gonna take is so awesome. It's more like no, I really want to like get international experience, and I think it definitely got it. And also like in the end, did I learn things at my job? Yeah, sure. But I think like the main things I learned was just like being exposed to a totally different environment, and especially since San Francisco is so I wouldn't say niche, but it's my it's pretty, pretty nerdy, and a lot of innovation, a lot of money. So you you I mean, depending on like which circles you are in, but like you get really uh into your tech finance AI bubble, and that is like uh what happens in your world kind of thing. Um and I think it really it was really interesting for me to be in that bubble because I mean, of course, like oh yeah, no, it's interesting with AI and like whatever, but it's not that I've been like, oh, I really like this. So I think it was really interested to just like learn about that, just learn more about the startup culture, and that is just something that I learned by being in that kind of environment, just surrounded by really, really smart people. Um, and oh yeah, as I said before, like always being feeling like kind of the dumbest people uh person in the room. Well, now when I'm back, I'm like I actually know my shit. Um, so I think it was definitely totally worth it. I would say do it, but be aware. The other day, a thought struck me that I was like, damn, what have I done? What if I never can live longer than a couple of years in one place because I always want to go see the next thing.
SPEAKER_03Maybe.
SPEAKER_01Maybe.
SPEAKER_03And that is the reason why we call this then the first episode, yeah.
SPEAKER_01No, no, no, it's yeah, no. Also, like the other day, uh, my mom asked me and was like, Oh, do you miss it? And I was like, Yeah, you know, me so being so drama queen to my friends, they're like, Oh, do you miss it? And I was like, you know, I've never been heartbroken, but when I think about San Francisco, my heart hurts a little bit. But no, the other day, so mom asked me and was like, Hey, do you like how do you feel? Like, do you and do you and I was like, yeah, no, I would want to like go back eventually. And she was like, Would you want to be there forever? And I was like, Ah, no, and I was like, no, I don't, I don't think so. Uh but like, yeah, no, San Francisco. I mean, big recommend. Uh, but I think it's totally different to live there and just visit.
SPEAKER_03So with that, I think we probably close our longest episode and having this the final one for this season. Yeah. And then let's see.
SPEAKER_01Let's see.
SPEAKER_03Maybe there will be season two.
SPEAKER_01All right.
SPEAKER_03All right. Thank you. It was a pleasure.
SPEAKER_01Adios.
